The federal government yesterday expressed concern about the multiple rocket attacks launched by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Maiduguri, Borno State ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state last Thursday.
The inspector general of police, Mr. Usman Baba stated this while briefing journalists on the outcome of an emergency national security council meeting held at the presidential villa, Abuja yesterday
He said although the government and the security agencies were particularly concerned about the rocket attacks, the target of the terrorists was defeated by security forces.
The IGP said Buhari, who presided over the meeting, had tasked all security and intelligence chiefs in attendance to take the heat to the insurgents and other criminals.
“Yes, it has been done before and it has also been done even after that. Some of those who must have planned and thrown those rockets have been taken out.
“Their launching into major towns, their launch in Maiduguri is a serious concern and it has been seriously checkmated and there are efforts to continuously checkmate it.
“What they did on Thursday, yes they have done it, but to a large extent they have not achieved much of what they intended to achieve because of the security, particularly the military, put in place,” he said.
He added that the security agencies were asked to spare no terrorist or criminal, adding that the target now should be crime prevention.
“The marching orders are always the same; you have even told Nigerians the marching orders of the President. It has always been the same; there is no space, there is no tolerance to any threat to security.
“There is no sparing of any terrorist and there must be an intelligence gathering, there must be proactive prevention of crime and there must be checkmating of all those that are involved in criminal activities, whether it is terrorism, banditry or armed robbery or whatever and that is what we are trying to do to the best of our knowledge and ability.”
On the massive deployment of security men to the southeast, Usman said: “You said it is an allegation which has not been proven, it has always been an allegation. The spaces are different, the whole of the South-east, in terms of landmass, might not be as large as Niger State, so certainly you may see a number of policemen within a very small space, trying to do policing work and you may see another number, not equal, doing much more than that.
“But when we talk about policing a population or policing a place where there is economic activity or policing in a place where there is much threat, then certainly you have to put more men to govern that small space and that is what you are seeing.
“Yet with all these things that you’re saying, within a small space of time, you see policemen, but there is yet more crime in the Southeast than in some of the states that are larger in area, in landmass.
“So, the distribution is based on population, it’s based on economic activities, it’s based on nature of crime and the threats that are available to us, based on our assessment”, he said.
Also speaking, the minister of interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, allayed fears among Nigerians, especially the residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over reported planned attack on Abuja, saying there is no cause for worry.
“There isn’t any threat to the safety and security of Abuja. Abuja is secure and very safe. If there was a leak, as you mentioned, it could just be an operational alert that does not require any worry or concern. The Council has mandated us to assure Nigerians of their safety, of their security and enduring peace for the period of the festivities.
“The message of the security council, through you to Nigerians, is that all measures for the safety and security of the Nigerian people and Nigeria are in place for a successful and happy celebration of the yuletide and the New Year,” he said.
In attendance at the meeting were the vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; secretary to the government of the federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha and the national security adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.).
Others included the minister of defense, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.); Aregbesola; chief of defense staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor; chief of army staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya; chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and chief of air staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao; director general, Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Yusuf Bichi and director general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr. Ahmed Abubakar.
